Running Head: Influenza

Influenza
Sandra Jaime:000556083
Western Governor University
October, 24, 2016

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The following research paper will focus on influenza outbreak that occurred at the USS
Ardent, a U.S. Navy minesweeper, was moored in San Diego, California, On February 10, 2014,
while conducting training. Over the course of 3 days, 25 of 102 crew members sought medical
care because of influenza-like illness. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). To be
discussed are, routes of transmission, risk factors, as well as determinants relating to the
incidence and prevalence of this disease. Finally, I will look at strategies and measures for
preventing this illness.
A1. Influenza Outbreak
Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an acute viral infection that spreads from person
to person, affecting anybody in any age group and circulate worldwide. (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2014) . According to World Health Organization Influenza spreads
around the world in a yearly outbreak specially during the winter season resulting in about three
to five million cases of severe illness and about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths. Exist four types of
influenza viruses but only three A, B, C are capable to affect people. However, the most
significant impacts of influenza viruses on humans are those arising from the influenza A strains
which is classified into two subtype A(H1N1) and A(H3N2). (CDC.2014). The influenza virus
for long time been a threat to our society as example can be mention the Spanish flu", a variety
of influenza that in 1918 was responsible for the worst influenza pandemic in modern history
which caused about 50 million deaths worldwide. ( US National Library of Medicine. National
Institutes of Health, 2006).

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A2. Route of Transmission and Risk Factors

As mentioned, Influenza is an infectious respiratory illness caused by infection with an

influenza virus. There is a wide range of severity of illness from minor symptoms such as a
fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, and coughing through to severe
pneumonia, encephalitis and a general whole-body infection any of which can be life
threatening. (World Health Organization, 2014). These severe illnesses may be due to the
influenza virus or because of other bacterial or viral infections that occur after flu has lowered
the bodys defenses. (Florida Deparment of Health, 2016). The more severe illnesses are more
common in the elderly, very young and those with other chronic medical conditions like diabetes
or heart disease or asthma and pregnant women. ( US National Library of Medicine. National
Institutes of Health, 2006)
Influenza virus can be transmitted primarily when people breathing in the larger droplets
coming from infectious people coughing or sneezing. Also, can be spread by direct contact of the
mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat with virus, for example from the hands of
infectious people who have rubbed their noses such as a hand-shake and contaminated surfaces.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). The incubation period which is the time
between infection and the appearance of symptoms is usually about two to three days. (World
Health Organization, 2014)
A3. Possible Systems Affected
The burden of influenza for the society, not only from a clinical but also from an economic
perspective may be devastating. (World Health Organization, 2014). First, there are several cases
and deaths during an outbreak. Secondly, but of greater economic impact, are the large numbers

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of mild to moderate cases which result in work absenteeism from influenza illness results in
indirect costs. (World Health Organization, 2014). In young children, influenza is associated with
increased rates of otitis media and serious cardiorespiratory illnesses leading to hospitalization
which not only impacts on children but contributes on average to a loss of 3 work days for the
parent who must remain at home with the child. ( US National Library of Medicine. National
Institutes of Health, 2006). Hospital would get crowded and not enough personnel and rooms
would be available. (Elsevier, 2006).
A4. Reporting Protocol
The Florida Department of Health, along with Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, have set up guidelines and reporting protocols of outbreak of Influenza. (Florida
Department of Health, 2014b). Health care professionals, in all types of Florida health care
facilities, should notify their County Health Department when a patient tests positive for
Influenza virus and The Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 64D-3 is designed to insure
prompt disease reporting. (Florida Health Department, 2015). New cases can be reported
electronically, via US mail report-form, or by calling the local health department. (Florida
Deparment of Health, 2016).
A5. Plan to Report an Outbreak
Perhaps the most important response to Influenza outbreak, is to report each case
immediately to the local Health Department. Each patient must be investigated to determine the
timing and source of the infection. Detailed information regarding the environments where each
infected individual lives and works, must gathered for the purpose of initiating targeted state and
local government health agency responses; that are timely and appropriate. Second, virus related

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information and education must be provided to both infected individuals and their family
members. Routes of disease transmission, as well as risk factors.
A6. Strategies
Common sense dictates that public education and awareness are the very important to the
prevention Influenza virus outbreaks. Health care workers play a vital role in reducing morbidity
and mortality from influenza by vaccinating people. According to Centers for Disease Control
and prevention a yearly flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu
viruses. Because Influenza virus is airborne disease, communities must receive information
about signs and symptoms, route of transmission, risk factors, prevention and treatment in order
to avoids this disease. One of the most important preventive actions while you are sick is limit
contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them and stay home for at least 24
hours after your fever is gone. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014).Cover your
nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you
use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu. All of
them are infection control measures to prevent influenza transmission. (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2014).

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References

US National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. (2006, January). 1918 Influenza:
the Mother of All Pandemics. Retrieved from Emerging Infectious Diseases:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3291398/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, October 24). Influenza Outbreak in a
Vaccinated Population USS Ardent, February 2014. Retrieved from Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR):
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6342a3.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Seasonal Influenza: Flu Basics. Retrieved
from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/index.htm
Elsevier. (2006). Rapid Reference to Influenza. Retrieved from
http://www.rapidreferenceinfluenza.com/resource-center
Florida Health Department. (2015). Retrieved from Flu Prevention :
http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/prevention/fluprevention/index.html
World Health Organization. (2014, March). Influenza (Seasonal). Retrieved from Media Centre:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/

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